A local charity benefiting local homeless and at-risk girls is hoping for some holiday cheer at this year’s annual high tea event in Birmingham.

The Birmingham Holiday High Tea event will be benefiting Alternatives For Girls, a Detroit-based organization that works to help local homeless and high-risk girls.

The organization helps girls avoid violence, teen pregnancy and exploitation. It also gives them support and access to resources and opportunities so the girls make positive choices in life.

They offer three key services that help accomplish their mission: Prevention, shelter and transition to independent living and outreach.

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Shirley Maddalena, owner of Maddalena Design in Birmingham, is hosting the event, which is celebrating its 25th year.

The tea serves as not only a charity fundraiser, but as a holiday kick-off party for friends and family.

“For 25 years, the holiday high tea has presented the opportunity to ring in the holidays and support women’s charities,” Maddalena said. “There are mothers and daughters and girlfriends who have been coming to the tea since 1988 and others who discovered the event in recent years and now make it an annual tradition. Many of the attendees have also become volunteers and supporters of Alternatives For Girls year round once they learn of the positive impact Alternatives For Girls is having on girls and young women in the Detroit area.”

The holiday high tea will feature a silent auction of new and white elephant items brought by guests. One-hundred percent of the proceeds will go to the charity.

The auction items include jewelry, books, home decor, food baskets and floral arrangements.

According to Maddalena, the auction items are a highlight of the event for the guests and have raised approximately $8,000 each year to directly support Alternatives For Girls.